The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1887-05-28
MR., CURTIS AND MR.. CLEVELAND.

MIR. Geo. William Curtis, whatever
may be said of him as a republican or
a mugwump, is a very clever man, and
he made a very clever speech at the
monthly dinner of the Commonwealth
Civil Service Reform Club, at the
Metropolitan hotel in New York, last
Tuesday. He said a good many witty
things, and he said some true things,
but, as he habitually does OF late, he
fell into one or two errors, in these re-
marks:-"I think there are probably
more republicans who are in favor OF
civil service reform than democrats.
Is the democratic party a party OF civil
service reform? The president certain
ly is a democrat of unquestionable
character. Apid incalculable difficult
ties he has been honestly endeavoring
to carry out his convictions upon this
subject. But he has met enormous OBJ
structions, and the most enormous Is
the democratic party itself. [Applause.1
The Kentucky democrats represent the
policy end principles of the demo-
cratic party. In the presidents own
state, the representatives in the state
legislature, freshly returned from the
people, with almost entire unanimity-
1 think there were two or three excep-
tions--voted for the repeal OF the civil
saryfco- roform jawn
Mr.. Curtis in this evidently takes the
shadow for the substance. Sometimes
these are, from peculiar causes, very
dissimilar. A great political party is
not made up principally of its few pol
iticians, but of its millions of voters
who are not politicians. The desire OF
these is best attested by their choice OF
leaders. Mr.. Cleveland, Mr.. Curtis
admits, is a real, genuine, earnest civil
service reformer, and Mr.. Cleveland is
way beyond all cavil, the most popular
man for president with his party. In
the republican party, however, two
names divide the leadership, those o
Messrs. Blaine and Sherman. Tn
first. as Harper's Weekly has often as
serted, is the enemy of civil service re
form, and the other, if he is its frien'
at all is so merely in a perfunctory
way.
No civil service reformer, genuinel
= 90, is even dreamed OF for nomination
by the republicans, and it is as ce rtai
as that three and two make five, that
the republicans succeed there will b
2 made inside of six months a clea
sweep.
3 We say all this in nj spirit of fault
finding with Mr.. Curtis for expressin
the view he seems to hold, because W
believe that in no other way could
4 do the democratic party more goot
He addresses mugwumps. They d
not like democracy. They have To-
-. faith in republicanism Of the latter-ds
variety. They admire Mr.. Cleveland
- Well, that is a very good condition
mind for them to remain In. Probabl
the best that can be hoped for. M
n Cleveland will be re-nominated by til
rank and file of his party with SUI
% acclaim as will relegate the "Kentucl
is resolutions" 80 far as they related
it him to a comfortable pigeon hole.
J. John G.. Carlisle was the preside
of the Kentucky convention. In O.
sense he was its platform, too. The
N is no uncertain sound in what he ga
about MI. Cleveland.
There are some precedent conditio
laid down by this democrat or that;
this newspaper or that: but as q mat,
:. of fact there is but M such condition
~. if Mr.. Cleveland lives he will be
,, nominated, and re elected. The gr'
heart of the American people /
70 already settled that. 1t believes him
ed be patriotic, brave, honest, self-relia
ho 1t admires these qualities, and no
,et need be surprised if the majority
ar. will receive in 1883 shall prove to
,ot phenomenal. Mr.. Curtis will,
think, have to revise his views.